Building a poker table
I've noticed a lot of the Ante Up! Nation building their own tables lately, and I have to admit I'm quite impressed. I didn't realize we had so many handy people in the Nation.
My wife and I have recently re-arranged the furniture and space in our vast living room, and it turns out we'll have a nice area for what could be a permanent poker table. Jeanne would like it to be multifunctional, serving as a poker table when we play, but then covered (with a really nice wooden top, like this) to serve as a dining table for guests. And this makes sense since I don't want a table that will be folded up and put away, I'd want it to be permanent, but I also don't want an eyesore either. (And I know, no poker table is an eyesore, that's blasphemy, but you get my point.)
So, I had been thinking of building my own table, but the more I thought about it the more I realized this table would end up costing me nearly as much as it would to just buy the damn thing, and it might not come out as nice. I wouldn't want those little fold-out legs or even the poles that remind me of a bar or cafeteria serving line. I'd want the nice carved legs, and the cover would have to be real nice, too (varnished, etc.)
My stepson Charles is really talented when it comes to crafting and working with power tools and building stuff, but I think we'd be out of our league if we wanted to build the kind of table my wife and I envision. So I ask you, how much do you really save by building a table yourself (and I mean a table that rivals the kind you see at casinos or higher quality types online), or is it worth it to just save up and buy one already made?
-- Chris
Christopher Cosenza is co-host of the longest running poker podcast on the planet, Ante Up! He started playing poker seriously in 2003 and his favorite players are Phil Ivey and Kenna James, though he tends to act like Phil Hellmuth if you make a bad play against him.
Scott Long, Ante Up!'s other co-host, is the author of the monthly Bet on It column in tbt*. He began gambling way too young (don't tell the fuzz!) and in the seventh grade, named his state "Gambleland" for a school project (State Animal? Loan shark, of course).
you know I was going to respond... If you were looking at buying one that was nice, with a table top like the one you linked to, you could be looking in the 2k to 3k range. Here's one that went for $3500, http://tinyurl.com/24euga. This was just posted yesterday. If you did it yourself, you could be looking around $500/$700. Big part of the cost would be the base... Hmmmm, I see a trip to Tampa and an entry into a tourney our two at TBD. ;)
Posted by: Turley11 | April 19, 2007 at 10:44 PM
http://tinyurl.com/24euga <---that should work now
Posted by: Turley11 | April 19, 2007 at 10:46 PM
Since the base (legs) I want is between $375-$500 I doubt I'd build the whole table for $500-$700. And I doubt I could build one as nice as the linked one you provided. This is a tough one.
Posted by: Chris Cosenza | April 19, 2007 at 11:49 PM
Wasn´t Charles in the process of building a craps table some time ago? How did that work out?
Posted by: Erwin Blonk | April 20, 2007 at 03:07 AM
Chris, I will shoot you a spreadsheet later today that I have been keeping track of my costs on. Should give you a good idea. I also have the "fixed" costs like a jig saw and drill, none of which I had before this project.
Posted by: New Scott | April 20, 2007 at 07:19 AM
I have a couple buddies that built there own. One was nice, the other, well... Anyways it seemed better to have a round table then oval. For the fact there is no permenant dealer and the chip raking. Even though my arms get pretty long when they are my chips to be raked!! HEHE
Posted by: Kastro | April 20, 2007 at 08:50 AM
Total cost for the tables I make is about $500, if you add in the base, say another $200/$300, plus the wood for the top, could be pushing 1k... Go by the old Goodwill stores or ebay. I just looked on ebay, found this table going to for $25. Not saying you could get this one, but there are deals out there. http://tinyurl.com/38mxxb
Also, you can see the ones a lot of people on the table site use, http://tinyurl.com/2py2rj They are from Adams Wood Product, between $250/$300. They are very nice. Also a good note on that link JoAnns 50% off coupon for green 1" rail foam and vinyl, can save there.
Posted by: Turley11 | April 20, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Here are a few links that should help:
http://tinyurl.com/2r8jrp
And the legs much cheaper than $500:
http://tinyurl.com/34xulz
I think if you shop around a bit, you can build it for much cheaper as Tom said.
Posted by: MacAnthony | April 20, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Hey Mac,
That's cool. Those same legs are going for like $400 in other places. OK, I'm starting to feel better about this. I'd have to order the legs first so I could match the stain, wood, etc.
Posted by: Chris Cosenza | April 20, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Wow, those look almost exactly what I have under my kitchen table. It opens up to seat 10 nicely.
I just felt it when it's time to play.
I wish it had cup holders though.
I'd say with a little creative engineering you should be able to make a table that will be perfect for dining and poker.
Posted by: gadzooks64 | April 20, 2007 at 02:13 PM